Code translator mechanism



y 1934- R. G. GRIFFITH 1,960,438

CODE TRANSLA'I'OR MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR RONALD' a. GRIFFITH ATTORNEY May 29, 1934- R. G. GRIFFITH CODE TRANSLATOR MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RONALD G. GRIFFITH BY fld wyud/ ATTORNEY y 1934. R. G. GRIFFITH 1,960,438

CODE TRANSLATOR MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR RONALD G. GRIFFITH ATTORNEY Patented May 29, 1934 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE CODE TRANSLATOR MECHANISM Ronald George Griflith, Croydon, Surrey, England, assignor to Creed and Company, Limited, Croydon, Surrey, England Application June 29, 1931, Serial No. 547,619

In Great Britain May 14, 1931 7 Claims.

This invention relates to code translating mechanism for telegraphic and like signalling apparatus in which each one of a plurality of members is co-operable with a series of permutation members in accordance-with the character of the elements of each signal combination.

When permutation members in translating apparatus of this class are differentially slotted in accordance with the elements of a code so as to align the slots for one of a plurality of transversely arranged members for each particular setting of the series of permutation members, the position'of the member corresponding to each partic ular code combination of signal elements is determined by the position in which the slots have been cut in the permutation members. With this arrangement if it is desired to arrange the plurality of members, each of which corresponds to a different character or signal in that code, in a 2d different manner, it is necessary to provide other permutation members in which the slots have been cut toaccord with this desired arrangement of the members. In a translating mechanism for a keyboard controlled apparatus for example, the keyboard layout cannot be rearranged without this necessity of providing other permutation members. In a translating mechanism for a signal receiving apparatus, also the signal code combination which effects functioning op- 3o erations such as carriage return and case shift cannot be altered without this necessity of providing other members slotted to accord with these particular requirements.

The object of the invention is to provide translating mechanism in which it is possible to obtain any keyboard or combination head arrangement from standard sets of permutation members, and in which the co-acting parts are as far as possible positive in operation.

Accordingly the invention provides a code translator mechanism in which each one of a plurality of members carries a series of code projections adapted to cooperate with a corresponding series of permutation members through one or another portion of each saidpermutation member corresponding to the one or other of two alternative positions thereof.

Oth r features of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompaanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a translating mechanism according to the invention as applied to a telegraph keyboard controlled apparatus in which the plurality of members carrying code projections constitute 55 the key-levers in a keyboard. Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive illustrate the method of operation of'the permutation bars by the code. projections on the key levers of the arrangement of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 shows a modified method, according to the invention, of operating the permutation members from the key-levers. Fig. '7 isa further alternative modification as applied to a keyboard controlled apparatus, and Fig. 8 shows a translating mechanism according to the invention as applied to a. signal receiving apparatus, for the selection of a printing character for instance.

Referring to Fig. 1, A is a key lever and represents one of a plurality of similar key-levers arranged in the usual manner of a keyboard. Situated beneath the key-levers and arranged transversely thereto is a series of permutation members which may be of any number but are here represented by the two bars B and C. These bars are suitably supported and guided by means, not shown, to permit independent longitudinal movement of each bar and are each formed of two principal portions B, BlC, C1, rigidly fixed together, each'portion having a seriesof slots with, inclined faces on one side and verticalfaces on the other. The distance between corresponding points of adjacent slots in each portion is equal to the distance between adjacent key levers and the inclination of the face of the slots in one por-F other in accordance with the character of the corresponding element of the signal which it is desired to form. The arrangement of the series of code projections on each lever is thus characteristic of the combination of elements forming. the signal for that key. The group of projections may therefore be termed a code-bar for that keylever and as each ccde bar differs for each keylever they may conveniently be made as separate members to be attached to each of the plurality of key-levers as shown at D in Fig. 1.

Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive illustrate the method of operation of the permutation bars by the code projections. A single permutation bar is shown in Fig. 2 the rear portion B of the bar being shaded and the front portion Bl, being unshaded. E and J5 represent the sections of a code projection for each of two adjacent key-levers respectively, projection E being situated so that it engages only with the front or unshaded portion of the permutation bar, whilst projection F is shaded to indicate that it is situated so as to engage only with the rear or shaded portion of the permutation bar. With the bar in its left-hand position, as shown in Fig. 2, on depression of the corresponding keylever, projection E engages the inclined face of its notch situated therebeneath and actuates the bar to its right-hand position as shown in Fig. 3. In this right-hand position of the bar the inclined instead of the vertical cut away face is brought beneath the code projection such as projection F in Fig. 3, of any key-lever which is engageable with the rear or shaded portion of the permutation bar. On release of the previously mentioned key-lever, projection E rises as shown in Fig. 4 and the permutation bar remains in the position to which it has been actuated until the depression of any key-lever carrying a projection which is engageable with the rear or shaded portion of the permutation bar. On depression of such a key the bar is again actuated to its lefthand position as shown in Fig. 5.

It will thus be seen that only those permutation bars are moved which require resetting for each new combination of elements and that each of these permutation bars is positively moved by a projection engaging either with one or the other portion of its associated bar according to the one or other direction in which it is to be moved.

It will be understood that the mechanism controlled by the permutation bars according to the one or other position to which each bar is movable, may be of any desired form, but as this forms no essential part, of the present invention it is not here further described.

In Fig. 6 a modification is shown in which the permutation members are in the form of plain bars G and H individually fixed to suitable side members I, J at each end and pivoted as at K and L respectively to move in a direction transversely to the bars themselves and longitudinally to the key-levers A. Each key lever carries a series of code projections which may be in the form of a detachable code bar D as before, but in this case the projections themselves are arranged with faces inclined along the direction of the code-bar M and N, and as before each permutation bar re- 'mains in the position to which it was last actuated until positively actuated to the other position by a key-lever having a projection with an inclination in the opposite direction. If desired, the permutation bars may be retained in either position until thus moved by means such as the spring jockey roller 0 bearing on one or the other of oppositely inclined faces on the side members I and J for instance.

Fig. '7 shows a further modification of the invention as applied to a keyboard-controlled translator mechanism similar to that described in U. S. Patent No. 1,639,212. In this case each of the permutation bars has a single slot out therein under each key-lever and as in the case of the arrangement of Fig. 1 each of the permutation bars is movable longitudinally from one to the other of two alternative positions. Each of the key-levers carries a code-bar D having projections which are adapted to engage with the slots of those permutation bars which it is desired to retain in one position. A positive motion such as that of eccentric cam shaft P resets the permutation bars against the tension of their individual springs Q after each signal combination has been selected and brings all the slots in the permutation bars into position under their respective keys. When a key-lever A is depressed the eccentric cam P is rotated for one revolution and the permutation bars are released but those bars in which corresponding projections of the code bar have entered are retained in one position whilst the others are free to be actuated to theother position by their respective springs.

In Fig. 8 the invention is shown as applied to the selecting mechanism of a telegraph signal receiving apparatus. In this case the functions of the relative parts of the code translating mechanism are reversed as compared with a code translating mechanism in a keyboard-controlled apparatus. In the case of a signal receiving apparatus each of the series of permutation members is set in one or the other of two positions in accordance with the character of the corresponding element in the signal combination and one of the plurality of members, each of which as before carries its code projections, is selected in accordance with the setting of the series of permutation members, instead of the setting of the permutation members being controlled as in the case of the keyboard by the depression of the one of the plurality-of members. As in the case of the arrangement of Fig. 1, each permutation bar is formed of two principal portions rigidly fixed together. Each portion is notched with a uniform series of square cut notches R, the projections S left between the notches of one portion being arranged opposite the notches of the other portion. Each one of the plurality of members T as above mentioned carries a series of code projections U and V corresponding to the series of permutation bars, each projection being situated to cooperate either with one portion of its bar or the other.

When a selection is to be made, the plurality of members are first lifted clear of the permutation members and the series of bars are then set in accordance with the corresponding elements of a received signal combination by any of the means known in the art and therefore not here described. The plurality of members are then permitted to fall on to the permutation members but only one falls into the position shown in Fig. 8, for each setting of the permutation members, as at least one projection on each of the remainder of the plurality of members will be intercepted by the unnotched parts either of one portion or the other of the permutation bar.

It will be appreciated that if desired instead of square cut notches in each portion of each permutation bar in the arrangement of Fig. 8 notches inclined as in the arrangement of the keyboard of Figs. 1 to 5 could be employed so that the longitudinal movement of the permutation bars only controls the vertical movement relatively thereto of each of the plurality of members T. In the same manner as in the case of the arrangement of Fig. 8 for any one setting of the permutation bars only one of the members will be permitted to remain at the bottom of the slots. All of the remainder will be actuated by one or more of the inclined faces of the notches during the setting of the permutation bars, to the top portion of the notched bars and there maintained during the continuance of the setting.

What is claimed is:

1. In a code translator mechanism for a signalling system wherein the signals are composed of different permutations of a definite number of elements of two diiferent characters, selecting members, one for each signal combination, twoposition permutation members each composed of two uniformly notched portions one for each said character rigidly fixed together with the notches of one portion in an opposing position relative to those of the other portion, and code projections equal to the number of said elements carried by each selecting member and respectively positioned thereon according to the character of the elements of the particular signal so that upon actuation of a particular selecting member the code projections thereof co-operate with the notches of the one or the other portion of the respective permutation members to position said permutation members in the one or the other of the two positions as determined by the character of the respective elements or" the signal represented by the actuated selecting member.

2. In a code translator mechanism for a signaling system wherein the signals are composed of different permutations of a definite number of elements of two different characters, selecting members one for each signal combination, twoposition permutation bars corresponding to the definite number of elements and movable from one to the other of two positions in a direction parallel to the selecting members, each permutation bar having two portions corresponding respectively to the two diiierent characters, means to maintain each permutation bar yieldingly in one or the other of said positions, and code projections equal to the number of said elements carried by each selecting member, each projection having a face inclined in one direction or the other according to the character of the element represented thereby so that upon actuation of a par icular selecting member the code projections thereof engage the one or the other por tion of the respective permutation bars to position said permutation bars in the one or the other of said two positions as determined by the character of the respective elements of the signal represented by the operated selecting member.

3. In a code translator mechanism for a signalling system wherein the signals are composed of dii ferent permutations of a definite number of elements of two different characters, selecting members one for each signal combination, twoposition permutation members each composed of two portions one for each said character rigidly fixed together, each portion having a series of notches inclined oppositely to those of the other portion, and the notches of one portion partially overlapping the notches of the other portion, and code projections equal to the number of said elements carried by each selecting member and respectively positioned thereon according to the character of the elements of the particular signal so that upon actuation of a particular selecting member the code projections thereoi cooperate with the inclined face of the one or the other portion of the respective permutation members to position said permutation members in the one or the other of the two positions as determined by the character of the respective elements of the signal represented by the actuated selecting member.

4. In a code translator mechanism for a signalling system wherein the signals are composed of difierent permutations of a definite number of elements of two different characters, selecting members one for each signal combination, twoposition permutation members'each composed of two portions one for each said character'rigidly fixed together, each portion having a series or" square-cut notches, the notches of one portion being disposed'opposite the projections between the notches oi the other portion, and code projections equal to the number of said elements carried by each selecting member and respectively disposed opposite either one or the other of said two portions of the corresponding permutation 'member so that upon actuation of the particular selecting member the code projections thereof co-operate with the notches of the one or the other portion of the respective permutation members to position said permutation members in the one or the other of the two positions as determined by the character of the respective elements of the signal represented by the actuated selecting member.

5. In a code translator mechanism for a signalling system wherein the signals are composed of different permutations of a definite number of elements of two different characters, a selecting member for each signal combination, twoposition permutation members of identical form and corresponding to the definite number of elements, each permutation member having two portions corresponding respectively to the two different characters, and a code bar having a plurality of code projections equal to the number of said elements carried by each selecting member and respectively positioned thereon according to the character of the elements of the particular *ignal so that upon actuation of a particular selecting member the projections of the code bar thereof co'operate with the one or the other portion of the respective permutation members to position said permutation members in the one or the other of said two positions as determined by the character of the respective elements of the signal represented by the said actuated selecting member.

6. In a code translator mechanism for a signalling system wherein the signals are composed of different permutations of a definite number of elements of two different characters, a selecting member for each signal combination, twoposition permutation members of identical form corresponding to the definite number of elements, each permutation member having two portions corresponding respectively to the two diiierent characters, and code projections equal to the number of said elements carried by each selecting member and respectively positioned thereon according to the character of the elements of the particular signal so that upon actuation of a particular selecting member the code projections thereof co-operate with the one or the other portion of the respective permutation members to position said permutation members in the one or the other of said two positions as determined by the character of the respective elements of the signal represented by the said actuated selecting member.

'7. In a code translator mechanism for a signalling system wherein signals are composed of different permutations of a definite number of elements of two diilerent characters, a set of members one for each signal combination, a set of two-position permutation members of identical form corresponding to the definite number of elements, each permutation member having two portions corresponding respectively to the two different characters, and code projections equal to the number of said elements carried by each member of the first-mentioned set and respectively positioned thereon according to the character of the elements of the particular signal to -5 co-operate with the one or the other portion of the respective permutation members thereby to RONALD GEORGE GRIFFITH. 

